Means of stretch-spinning artificial filaments



June 30, 1931. c. HERRMANN Y 1,312,592

MEANS OF STRETCH SPINNING ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS Filed May 3, 1930 Fig.1-

32 2 iii 5 #10 11: 2:12; 1 17 {5 l v 6 B 6- j 5 i Di 1% 6 i Eiql- I V IQ I gwwmtoc' abbozmq Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT?OFFICE.

CONRAD HERRM'AN N, OF WUPPEIRTAIe-ELBERFELD, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TOAMERICAN GLANZSTOFF CORPORATIOIV, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MEANS OF STRETCH-SPINNING ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS Application filed May 3,1930, Serial No. 449,413, and in Germany April 29, 1930.

Artificial threads are generally produced in the following manner; aspinning solution is extruding through a spinning nozzle and theextruded filamentscoagulate either in the air or in specialprecipitating baths and are then wound on ,a take-up spool in the formof thread. This so-called spinning process requires a certain tension ofthe threads as well as a stretching of the same between the nozzle (i.e. the spinnerette) and the take-up spool. Upon the degree of thistension i. e. the stretching, depend the different qualities of thethread, such as the cross section, the size, the cross sectional form,the dyeing qualities and the physical properties such as firmness andelasticity. In the usual and well known spinning process as the tensionaffects the length of the thread which lies between the spinnerette andthe take-up spool, or, if a roller has been installed between these twoppints,-this will affect the length of the thread tween the spinningnozzle and the roller or between the roller and take-up spool. In all ofthese cases a comparatively small stretch only, could be obtained,because the newly-produced thread is stretched between two points and isconsiderably burdened by its own weight. This process was, therefore,not very successful.

The new invention, as outlined on the following pages, produces a slowstretching of the thread between the spinning nozzle and the take-upspool. According tothis inventlon the newly spun thread is wound on anumber, the minimum being three, of rollers, cylinders, spools, orshafts, arranged in seuence, which run with an increasing circumerentialspeed and between which the thread isforcibly stretched several timesowing to the adhesion of the thread to the stretching devices (rollers,spools, etc.).

It has been observed that with this multiple sub-division of thestretching device the thread is handled in a more gentle manner and runsless risk of being damaged than if it had been stretched in oneoperation and by a single stretching. On the other hand.

the installation of numerous stretching divisions makes a larger totaltension possible than if only one stretching division had been used. Theprocess and the total effect thus obtained is not a mere rangingtogether of similar processes. Owing tothe precipitating effect of thebath on the'thrcad and the further automatic changing of the threaditself, the ensuing stretching does not affect the thread in the samemanner in which the previous stretching did. Betweentwo stretchingshapes the thread has time to recover from a stretching and is.therefore, more able to stand being subjected to another limitedstretching step.

As an example of the operation of this process, a drawing accompaniesthis specification, in which;

Figure 1 is an end plan View of the device in operation, and

Figure 2 is a side view corresponding to Figure 1.

In Figures 1, and 2. A is a fixed head or case or shell in which thegeared wheel C, driven by the shaft B, runs. This'gear wheel Cdrivesseveral smaller gear wheels D D etc. In the device shown six ofthese wheels are shown, but the invention is. of course, not limited tothis specific number. These gears run on "axles housed in the case A.these axles beingelongated, (Figure 2). Outside the case A theseelongated axles carry several small rollers E E- etc. Six rollers areshown tocorrespond with the six wheels 1),, D etc., but are merelyillustrative of one enibodiment of the invention.

By the rotation of the shaft B the several gears D to D are actuated torotate the rollers E to E in the opposite direction to that of the shaftB. The gear transmission is so arranged that the roller E runs a littlefaster than roller E roller E, runs a little faster than roller E etc.,so that, finally, the roller E, has a greater speed than any of theother rollers. Instead of changing the gear trans? mission in ordertoobtain this increased speed 0f the several rollers, it may be obtainedby maintaining the sizes of the various gear wheels D -D constant, butchanging on increasing the diameter of the rollers El -E By this meansan ever-increasing circumfen' ential speed is obtained. The spinningprocess then takes place in such a manner that the having passed thegreatest stretching.

thread G coming out of nozzle F is laidaround the stretching means sothat a moderate stretching on the relatively slowly moving roller Etakes place. which stretching is then increased gradually by thesubsequent rollers E E etc. up to E and the thread is only taken up bythe take-up spool H aftgr s roller E runs faster than roller E thethrcad is therefore stretched very little between these two rollers but.receives a greater may be reeled around each of the difi'erent rollersE E etc. The number of rollers is given in the enclosed example as 6 butany number of rollers may be chosen but not less than three in order. toobtain at least two stretching degrees. On the other hand. the number ofrollers can also be increased by installing several of such stretchingmeans in sequence instead of using a single roller. A stretching devicemay be so arranged that a stretching roller with its gear wheels can beexchanged, or the stretching rollers only or, as another alternative,the gear wheels driving the rollers may be exchanged.

The process and the installation can be used not only for thespool-process and rollerprocess but also for the centrifugal-process, bywhich means the roller H, marked in the drawing, may represent thetransmission roller or take-up spool. from which the thread goes downinto the spinning centrifuge.

Claims:

1. An apparatus for stretching filaments comprising three or moredrawing rollers, each having a driving gear positioned to contact with amain driving gear, said drawing rollers being of different diameters andpositioned so that the rotation of the main driving gear will give therollers progressively increasing peripheral speeds around the group.

2. An apparatus for stretching artificial filaments comprising a commondriving gear, three or more drawing rollers positioned 4. An apparatusfor conditioning artificial silk, comprising a spinning nozzle, a threadassembling device, three or more drawing rollers between the spinningnozzle and the assembling device, said drawing rollers having individualdriving gears contacting with a common circular driving gear and beingadapted to be rotated by said circular driving gear at progressivelyincreasing peripheral speeds around the group.

5. Anapparatus for conditioning artificial filaments, comprising aspinning nozzle, a thread assembling device, three or more drawingrollers positioned around a common driving gear so that the threadpassing from the spinning nozzleto the assembling device may pass aroundeach of the drawing rollers in the group, said drawing rollers beingdriven at progressively increasing peripheral speeds from the first tothe last in the group with which the thread contacts.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

CONRAD HERRMAN-N.

thcreabout, said drawing rollers being-driven by said common drivinggear but at different peripheral speeds.

An apparatus for stretching filaments comprising three or more drawingrollers, each having an individual driving gear positioned to contactwith a main driving gear,

the said individual driving gears being of different diameters so thatthe drawing rollers may be rotated by the main driving gear at difierentperipheral speeds.

